Portable Sand Blaster - Any Good?

[Mike K]

I would invest in a cabinet , or maybe build a cabinet, lots of plans out there .

I do have a small cheap generic SCA brand cabinet , I use it for spark plugs and other small items and its been a handy thing. SCA also sells bags of the abrasive , black stuff. Super Cheap Auto .... do they sell anything that is not made in China

[Lynn Eades]

I have a vacuum blast cabinet. Probably a good unit, but older now.
The vaccuum system is a bit touchy, I imagine a pressure system is better. I find it painfully slow. I have a 12 cfm compressor. It is about the biggest single phase unit on the market and it runs out of puff very quickly. You need a 3 phase compressor or a diesel powered outfit. The other thing I could do, is to hook in a second compressor.
Anyhow Lionel, my advice is to take your chassis, wheels, and other big bits, to the commercial people. Otherwise (I believe)you will decide that your life is too short to waste it holding a near useless gun for hours and hours.
In support of Tony's comments, It is illegal to use silica sand for blasting in N.Z.(in a business situation)
I'm not saying dont buy that set up. You can do the small stuff that the commercial guys might loose while they are trying to chase it around the floor.
My outfit managed to loose one of my carrier suspension springs. This was years ago, when they did it outside. That doesn't happen any more.

Sorry Guys. I don't know why the pictures are upside down (i'm not trying to favour the northern hemisphere guys)

[Tony Smith]

Hey, Lionel.

No specific mention of a sandblster in the listing, but there's an interesting auction in Bundy this weekend with lots of workshop equipment: https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/bund...cks/1252473810

I see some good stuff in the pics!

[rob love]

Let me try.

[Lynn Eades]

Thanks Rob. It looks so much easier to use that way up.
Btw. the lid lifts on this one so that heavy stuff can be lowered in.

[charlie fitton]

I have one of these very inexpensive sandblast kits that mount on the end of your pressure-washer wand.

Bigger pressure washer is better, but it works well enough to do a few wee jobs. I did a few rims while still mounted on the boat trailer.

Yes - things will rust quickly, to state the obvious. Wipe it down and get the paint on...

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Charlie,

I may have posted this before but this is the chemical we used on ships with our industrial water blaster. Really was great stuff. We water blasted the holds, let the steel dry overnight with fans then painted the next day. No flash rust ever.

Available in Australia too through Wattyl paints and I have 4 litres that has lasted me many years.

Only need a small amount of this in water. I use about a teaspoon in 5 litres. On the ship we had a means of injecting it with the water. After I remove rust be it by molasses, acid, etc I dunk the parts in the solution, let it dry and I can wait even a few days before painting. Again, no flash rust.

Cheers,